ORANGE COUNTY Health Care Agency stats on coronavirus showed a decline in the daily average of new cases(Shutterstock).

The daily average of new coronavirus cases in Orange County declined sharply in Tuesday’s report on the local status of the pandemic.

According to the county health care agency, over the four-day reporting period of May 20-23, 2,440 new cases were tallied, which is an average of 610 per day. That’s down from Friday’s average of 938 cases, but still higher than a week ago when the figure was 519 per day.

There were two deaths (compared to five), hospitalizations at 131 (113) and the use of intensive cares units for COVID-19 patients at 20 (13).

To date, Orange County has had 566,402 cases of coronavirus. of which 545,422 are considered recovered. The death toll is at 7,030.

Nationally, The New York Times is reporting that – over a 14-day period – confirmed new cases are up 46 percent and deaths are down 15 percent. Hospitalizations have risen by 28 percent.

In California, Los Angeles Times reports that new cases are up 78 percent and deaths are down by 1 percent, over a similar stretch.